Electric-light socket.



T. A. C. BOTH. ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET. APPLIGATIQN FILED 1520.2, 1911,

1,040,1 31 Patented 0011.1, 1912..

WIT/VESSES #(29 L 4.9 /E m BV miv" T. A. C. BOTH.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.2,1911.

1,040,131. Patented 0ct.1,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TONJES AUGUST CARL BOTH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THE ZEE SOCKET AND MFG. C0., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPO- BATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SOCKET.

To all 'whom 'it Imuy con-cem:

Be it known that I, ToNJEs AUGUST CARL BOTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and vuseful Improvements inElectric-Light Sockets, of which the follow'- ing is a specification,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a art ofthe same.

This invention relates to electric light sockets and more particularlyto forming the electric light base in one' or more parts as a strainrehef without any additional expense in the manufacture of the base.

My invention further relates to a' new and improved method of attachingthe screw shell to the base and to certain elements and details ofconstruction to be later described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of myinvention, and in which the same reference numerals refer to similarparts in the several figures, Figure l is a' front elevation, a portionof the device being shown in vertical section; Fig. 2 is a horlzontalsection substantially on the line 2--2 4of Figs. l and looking in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the base``and screw.'

shell on line ffl-3" of Fig. 1;,Fig. 4 is a rear elevation with relationto Fig. 1 and partly broken away for the purpose of clearerillustration; Fi 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of al modi verticalsection on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3 looking up in the direction ofthearrows; Fig, 6 is a detail lan View of the supporting. memberto ho dthescrew shell or lamp holding member to the base. I preferably use thissupporting member as the center contact of my socket. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of the supporting member shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is afragmentary sectional View substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4; Fig.9 is a plan view of the screw shell; Fig.' 1'0 is a side elevation of amodification in which the base is formed of two complementaryparts; Fig.11 is a side elevation partly broken away of this modification, the basebein rotated 90 from the position shown in ig. 10; Fig. 12 is a detailvertical Specification of Letters Patent.

fication; Fig. 5 is a Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

vApplication led December 2, 1911. Serial No. 663,543'.

section substantially on the line 12--12 of i Fig. 11; Fig. 1.3 is ahorizontal section on the line 18-13 of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a plan viewof the supporting member of the screw shell. I preferably use thissupporting member as the center contact of my socket..

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of another modification.

In the illustrative embodiments of my in l vvention shown in thedrawings, 1 is an electric light socket formed of the base 2 and thelamp supporting member 3. 'This lamp supporting member is usually in theform of a screw shell and for the sake of clearness in description Iwill hereinafter refer to this element as a screw shell, it howeverbeing understood that in both the claims and the specification when Iuse the word screw shell I mean any element which holds the lamp orconsuming device.

It has been found in practice very desirable to relieve the bindingposts of electric light sockets from any strain, blow or pressure whichmay be thrown u on the feed wires,'as for example the fee wires 4 and 5,Fig. 1. Various expedients have been resorte to, to accomplish thisresult.

Bv my invent-ion I form the strain relief y directly in the base,preferably when the base is being manufactured. These bases are usuallyformed of some insulating ma terial such as porcelain and theirmanufacture is a large element in the cost of electric lightv sockets.vTo reduce the cost of molding or forming theinsulating base 2 I formmy`- strain relief so that it is lmade at the Sametime that the base ismolded, whether that base be made of one or more parts. In addition tothis feature, which greatlyA rel duces the cost of the manufacture ofaporcelain base, I form my strain relief without any cross holes thatis, I employ no holes made -by mandrels or cross pins or other partsusually arranged in the molds substantially atan angle, usually a rightangle, to the draw of the molds in molding the insulating base. By thismeans the insulating base, in my invention, including the strain relief,is made at one operation by simply using two dies or molds properlyshaped to form the apertures 6 and 7, which extend through the base. Ialso preferably though not necessarily form grooves 8 and 9 on one sideof the base at yan angle to the apertures 6 and 7 and similar grooves 10and 1-1 on the other side of the base to receive l their respective feedwires 4 and 5 as shown in Fig. 1. It willbe readily seen that theseapertures 6 and 7 as well as the grooves 8, 9, 10 and 11 will all beformed in the base 2 'at one operation without the labor and eX- penseincident to employing cross holes in molding or otherwise forming thebase. At the same time I preferably mold grooves 12 and 13 in oppositesides of the base 2 for the. reception of the binding post 14 carried bythe screw shell 3, and for the reception of the arm 15 carried by thesupporting member 16 for the lamp holding member 3. This supportingmember 16 I preferably use as a center contactl for the electric lightsocket. It is referably provided with a body member 1 and a downwardlybent finger 18 to contact. directly with the center Contact of the lampor consuming device, and with upwardly and outwardly extending wings 19,19, each wing being provided with a bendabl ear 20 formed by the slots21, 21 partly severing the ear from thenarms. Itis also provided withthe arm 15 as a binding post.

In some cases I may form the supporting member for the screw shell as aninsulating member 100, Fig. 4 having arms 101, 101, only one beingshown, which extend out through slots 102, 102, only one being shown, inthe screw shell 103. These a'rms coperate with the recesses 104, 104 inthe base 105 and in this manner hold the screw shell to the base. Thecenter contact 106 is sup'- ported in any suitable manner such as beingriveted to the insulating supporting member 100 by the rivet 107 whichwill be received in an opening 108 in the top of the screw shell 103 sothat there will be no danger of a short circuit between the screw shell103 and the center contact 106.

The screw shell 3 may be formed in various ways but I preferably provideit, Fig. 9, with different slots 22, 22 4and 23 and with a. binding post14 preferably formed integral with the screw shell 3 by cutting out. alip 24, Fig. 9, and bending it back upon itself to form the binding post1 4 for thereception of the binding screw 25.

At thesame time that the base 2 is being molded I form the shoulderedapertures 26, Fig. 3,"and also the shouldered apertures 27, 27, Figs. 2and 8. These shouldered apertures' 26 and 27 are also made without usingcross holes. The larger portion 28, 28 of the shouldered apertures 27,Fig. 5, in the insulating base 2 receives the wings 19, 19 of the screwholding member or center contact 16. These wings 19, 19 are threadedthrough the apertures 22, 22 in the top of the screw shell 3, Figs. 4and 9, the arm 15 of the center contact extending through the aperture23 in the screw shell, Figs. 9 and 3, the arm 15 serving as a bindingpost for the binding screw 29. Between the center contact 16 and the topof the screw shell 3 I insert any suitable insulation 30. After thecenter contact 16 has been connected to the base 2, and with it thescrew shell 3, by sliding the wings 19, 19 within the large openings 28,28`in the base, I preferably though not necessarily, bend down thebendable ears 20, 20, Figs. 7 and 8', by passing any suitable tool as 31from the rear through the smaller part 32 of the shouldered aperture 27so that the ear will be bent down behind the shoulders 33 (Fig. 8). Thisserves to securely hold the screw shell and center contact from relativemovement with relation to the base. The binding screw 25 is passedthrough the smaller portion of the shouldered aperture 26 and coperateswith a nut 34 in the larger portion of the aperture.

In assemblingthe feed wires they are fed through the apertures 6 and 7in opposite directions, one of them being connected to the binding post15 of the center contact and the other to the binding post 24 of thescrew shell by the respective bindin screws 29 and 25. It will bereadily seen tiat any strain, pressure or pull upon the feed wires 4 or5 will be transmitted directly to the insulating base and there absorbedwithout danger of having the strain transmitted to the different bindingposts and screws. My invention also does away with the necessity offorming a knot in the feed wires just above the base 2. It furtherpermits the wiring of the socket with the minimum amount of time andlabor.

My electric light socket is preferably surrounded by the usual easing 35and cap 36 (Fig. 1) though these form no part of my invention. In thecap I preferably use the bushing having a shoulder 38 to coperate withthe coperating shoulder 39 of the cap 36. The insulation 40 ispreferably provided with a portion extending beneath the bushing'so asto keep it in its proper position. I also, though not necessarily, forma projection 41, Fig. 1 on the insulating base 2 which may coperate witha groove 42 in the insulation 43 to keep the base from turning in thecasing though this rib 41 and the groove in the insulation may beomitted without departing from my invention.

In some cases I form my insulating base of a plurality of parts,preferably two, but in this form of my invention illustrated-in Figs. 10to 14, the strain remover is also formed without cross holes and at oneoperation in the molding of the different sections ofthe base. In thisform of my invention the insulating base 44 (Fig. 10) is formed of twocomplementary members 45 and 46, each-of them being provided withapertures 47, 48, respectively, which are formed in the respectivesections 45 and 46 of the base when they are molded., The different feedwires 49 and 50 are threaded through the base 44 from different sides,the feed wire 49 passingv through the aperture 48 and then down to thebinding screw 51. The other feed wire 50, Fig. 12, isvfed in theopposite direction through the aperture 47,

Ythence around the exteriorv groove 52 until it engages with the bindingscrew 58 con.- nected to the center contact 54.

The center Contact 54, Fig. 14,y has a body member 55 andk a downwardlyextending tongue 56 to contact with the center contact of the lamp orother consuming device. It is also provided with two upwardly extendingarms 57, 57. Each of these arms 57, 57 is provided with .fingers 59, 59which extend substantially at right angles to the arms, Fig. 10..

Each of the sections 45, 46 in their meeting faces are provided withkerfs or cut out portions for the reception of the fingers 59, 59 sothat when the two sections ofthe insulating base 45, 4.6 are broughtface to face they will hold the screw shell 60 by means of the centercontact 54 being mounted within the head of the screw shell and havingits fingers 59, 59 received within the kerfs or cut out portions in thecomplementary faces of the insulating sections 45, 46. The centercontact 54 is insulated from the head of the screw shell by means of anysuitable insulation such as 61, Fig. 13.

I provide the head of the screw shell 60- with a lip 62, Fig. 12, whichis preferably bent back upon itself. I then secure in any suitablemanner to this lip 62 a plate 63, which coperates with a screw 64 whichholds the two sections 45, 46 of the base together. rI`he base 44 isalso provided with the indentation or recess 65 to permit the bindingscrew, 53 to come within the periphery of the base 44. In like manner Ipro-l vide the base with the recess 66 to receive the binding screw 51and its coperating binding post.

Another portion of my invention consists of providing a base, Fig. 15,with a strain remover which is formed at the same time that the base 67is molded by forming upon it the ears 68, 68 provided with the apertures69, 69 for the feed wires 70 and 71. 'Ihese ears and apertures 69, 69are formed in the base at the same time that the base is molded withoutthe aid of cross holes which would greatly increase the expense ofmanufacture.

Any pull, strain or blow upon the feed Wires 70, 71 will be transmittedto the strain remover which in this form of my invention consists of theapertured ears 68, 68 and will relieve the binding screws 72, 72 fromsuch strain. The screw shell 73 and the center contact 74 are connectedto the insulating base 67 in any suitable manner as for example in theother forms of my invention.

i Having-thus described this invention in connection with severalillustrative embodiments thereof, to the details of which I do notdesire to be limited, what I claim as new and what it is desired tosecure by Letters Patent is setforth in the appended claims:

l. The combination in an electric light socket of an insulating base, ascrew shell, a separate screw shell support, and coperating engagingsurfaces on the base and separate screw shell support, adapted to holdtogether the base, the screw shell, and the screw shell support.

2. yThe combination in an electric light socket, of an insulating base,a screw shell, a separate center contact, and coperating engagingsurfaces on the base and center contact adapted to hold together thebase, center contact and the screw shell.

3. The combination in an electric light socket of an insulating base, ascrew shell, a support and coperating locking surfaces on the supportand the base adapted to hold the screw shell to the insulating base.

4. The combination in an electric light socket of an insulating baseprovided with locking surfaces, a screw shell, and a center contactprovided with locking members to coperate with the locking surfaces inthe base to hold the screw shell to the base.

The combination in an electric light socket of a'n insulating baseprovided with one or more transverse slots to coperate with a separatescrew shell support, a screw shell, and a separate screw shell supportprovided with one or more wings to cooperate with the transverse slot-s.

6. The combination in an electric light socket of an insulating baseprovided with onel or more transverse slots to coperate with a centercontact. a 'screw shell, and a center contact provided with one or morewings to coperate with the transverse slots in the base.

7. A center contact for an electric light socket comprising a bodymember, two upwardly and outwardly extending wings and an upwardlyextending arm to receive a binding screw.

8. A center contact for an electric light socket comprising a bodymember, two upwardly and outwardly extending wings, and one or morebendable members carried by the wings.

9. A center contact for an electric light socket comprising a bodymember, two upwardly and outwardly extending wings, and one or morebendable ears carried by the wings.

10. The combination in an electric light ate with the transverse slotsand the ears socket of an insulating' base provided with adapted to bebent down to coperate with one or more transverse slots, each slot'havthe shoulders in said slot.

ing a reduced portion forming: a shoulder, a TONJES AUGUST CARL BOTH. 5screw shell, and a center Contact provided Witnesses:

with one or more Wings and one or more LESTER H. APPEL,

bendable ears, the wings adapted to ooper- BENJAMIN STRAUSS,

